Survey and Research Vessel Finance - All Lenders Compared
| Lender | Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close Brothers | Hire Purchase / Finance Lease | 7–11% | £100,000 – £3,000,000 | 80% | 10 years |
| Lombard | Finance Lease | 6–10.5% | £500,000 – No stated cap | 80% | 12 years |
| HSBC | Commercial Loan | 5.5–9% | £500,000 – No stated cap | 80% | 12 years |
| NatWest | Commercial Loan | 5.5–9.5% | £500,000 – No stated cap | 80% | 12 years |
| Hampshire Trust Bank | Secured Asset Finance | 7.5–12.5% | £200,000 – £5,000,000 | 80% | 10 years |
| Shawbrook Bank | Secured Commercial Loan | 7.5–13% | £150,000 – £1,500,000 | 75% | 7 years |
| Paragon Bank | Secured Commercial Loan | 7–12% | £100,000 – £2,000,000 | 75% | 8 years |
Rates indicative as at October 2026. Subject to credit assessment, vessel survey and lender appetite at the time of application.
Best for Smaller Survey Vessels (£100,000–£500,000)
Inshore hydrographic survey craft, environmental monitoring vessels and smaller coastal survey boats fall in this ticket range. Close Brothers is the most accessible lender here, active from £100,000 with HP and lease options. Paragon and Shawbrook are also active from £100,000 and £150,000 respectively, with flexible underwriting that suits growing survey companies. Hampshire Trust is competitive from £200,000.
Best for Large Oceanographic Vessels (£2,000,000+)
For large oceanographic research vessels, ROV support ships and seismic survey vessels, HSBC (from 5.5%, 12yr terms) and Lombard (from 6%, 12yr terms) have the deepest capacity. NatWest is a strong alternative, particularly for operators with existing banking relationships. Hampshire Trust offers up to £5,000,000 at 7.5–12.5%, making it a useful alternative for transactions between £2m and £5m where clearing bank credit criteria are not met.
Best for Institutional Buyers
Universities, research councils and government agencies commissioning survey vessels are typically best served by HSBC and NatWest, whose commercial loan structures align with institutional procurement and treasury requirements. Where operating lease treatment is preferable, Lombard's finance lease product is commonly used by institutional and quasi-public sector buyers. Our team can advise on the most appropriate structure for your organisation's accounting and procurement requirements.
Rates and criteria by lender
How each lender on our panel prices this vessel type in October 2026, and where it fits. Rates are indicative; we compare them all for your case.
Close Brothers Survey and Research Vessel Finance Rates
Indicative rates for survey and research vessels currently range from 7–11% per annum, subject to credit assessment, vessel condition, LTV and the strength of contracted survey income. Loan amounts from £100,000 up to £3,000,000 are available, over a maximum term of 10 years.
| Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | Max LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hire Purchase / Finance Lease | 7–11% | £100,000 – £3,000,000 | 80% | 10 years |
Hampshire Trust Bank Survey and Research Vessel Finance Rates
Indicative rates for survey and research vessels currently range from 7.5–12.5% per annum, subject to credit assessment, vessel condition, LTV and the strength of contracted survey income. Loan amounts from £200,000 up to £5,000,000 are available, over a maximum term of 10 years.
| Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | Max LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secured Asset Finance | 7.5–12.5% | £200,000 – £5,000,000 | 80% | 10 years |
HSBC Survey and Research Vessel Finance Rates
Indicative rates for survey and research vessels currently range from 5.5–9% per annum, subject to credit assessment, vessel condition, LTV and the strength of contracted survey income. Loan amounts from £500,000 with no stated upper cap are available, over a maximum term of 12 years.
| Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | Max LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Loan | 5.5–9% | £500,000 – No stated cap | 80% | 12 years |
Lombard Survey and Research Vessel Finance Rates
Indicative rates for survey and research vessels currently range from 6–10.5% per annum, subject to credit assessment, vessel condition, LTV and the strength of contracted survey income. Loan amounts from £500,000 with no stated upper cap are available, over a maximum term of 12 years.
| Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | Max LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance Lease | 6–10.5% | £500,000 – No stated cap | 80% | 12 years |
NatWest Survey and Research Vessel Finance Rates
Indicative rates for survey and research vessels currently range from 5.5–9.5% per annum, subject to credit assessment, vessel condition, LTV and the strength of contracted survey income. Loan amounts from £500,000 with no stated upper cap are available, over a maximum term of 12 years.
| Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | Max LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Loan | 5.5–9.5% | £500,000 – No stated cap | 80% | 12 years |
Paragon Bank Survey and Research Vessel Finance Rates
Indicative rates for survey and research vessels currently range from 7–12% per annum, subject to credit assessment, vessel condition, LTV and the strength of contracted survey income. Loan amounts from £100,000 up to £2,000,000 are available, over a maximum term of 8 years.
| Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | Max LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secured Commercial Loan | 7–12% | £100,000 – £2,000,000 | 75% | 8 years |
Shawbrook Bank Survey and Research Vessel Finance Rates
Indicative rates for survey and research vessels currently range from 7.5–13% per annum, subject to credit assessment, vessel condition, LTV and the strength of contracted survey income. Loan amounts from £150,000 up to £1,500,000 are available, over a maximum term of 7 years.
| Product | Rate (% pa) | Loan Range | Max LTV | Max Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secured Commercial Loan | 7.5–13% | £150,000 – £1,500,000 | 75% | 7 years |